Types of glass

Clear glass (ordinary)

The clear glass (or annealing, or float) is composed of sand, soda and lime, hence its name of "silico-sodo-calcium" glass.

The flat glass is obtained by melting a mixture of minerals in a "float" furnace. The glass is melted on a flat, flawless surface: a molten tin bath. The glass thus produced is an "annealed" glass, having practically no internal tension.

mirror

Silver glasses (mirrors) allow the reflection of light rays. They are manufactured by silver plating, that is to say the application of a reflective layer (silver nitrate) protected with a layer of varnish. Decorative and / or aged effects can be obtained. There are different kinds (colors, shapes, etc.).

Laminated glass

Laminated glass is an assembly of several simple or transformed glazing with organic interlayers (plastic or resin). These interlayers are often made of PVB (polyvinyl butyral) and are assembled with the glass by pressurization in an autoclave

The first use of laminated glasses is safety. Indeed, when a laminated glass breaks, the pieces of glass are held in place thanks to the interlayers, which reduces the risk of cut and the crossing of the wall. Laminated glass also filters UV rays (protection against sun damage).

Depending on the type of glazing and interlayer used to make them, laminated glasses can be used to lat the break-in or to prevent the fall of people and objects. Some spacers can also add extra performance to laminated glass: acoustic insulation, fire protection ... while others will add a touch of additional decoration to your home: inclusion of fabrics, colored films...

In particular, laminated glass is used for the manufacture of bulletproof glazing, guardrails, floor slabs, interior partitions etc

Tempered glass

Tempered (or toughened) glass is a safety glass (sometimes referred to as safety glass) which has undergone a heat treatment to increase its mechanical and thermal resistance. It is heated to more than 600 °, and then cooled suddenly by forced convection. Tempering has the effect of considerably increasing the resistance to bending, compression, temperature variations and mechanical shocks.

If it breaks, the glass breaks up into small, blunt chips that limit the risk of injury.

Once treated, tempered glass cannot be transformed (cutting, drilling holes, etc.) without breaking

In particular, tempered glass is used to make custom-made shower screens, glass interior doors, sauna doors, table tops, etc.

Neoceram glass

Neoceram is a ceramic glass. It is designed to withstand very high temperatures. It is perfectly suited to heating appliances (chimneys, stoves, boilers, etc.).

Fire-resistant glazing

These panes benefit from tests (PV) for fire resistance, which include the frames receiving these panes. They are mainly laminated glasses with intumescent interlayers which abound in the event of fire and provide the glazing with its stability and flameproof performance. There are two categories of glazing: flame arresters or firewalls with variable durations of resistance to meet different levels of safety.

Insulating glazing

Insulating glazing (double glazing, even triple glazing) consists of two (or three) glasses separated by an air gap and assembled by a watertight aluminum or composite interlayer (Warm Edge) on the periphery. Insulating glazing provides better thermal insulation, especially those with enhanced thermal insulation (ITR), which consist of low emissive layer glass and a gas blade (usually argon).

Various glasses can be used for the composition of insulating glazing. The characteristics of some of these glasses can, in particular, allow better sound insulation, better sun protection, visual protection from the outside or protection of persons (falls, burglary, etc.), etc. The insulating glazing according to their destination can thus fulfill several functions at the same time (for example: thermal insulation + acoustics + safety).

Insulating glazing for renovation

Neoclair refurbishment insulation glazing allows the installation of a double glazing of 14 to 24 mm thickness on an old wooden joinery, without demastiquing (residual mastic and glass remain in the rabbet). For more information: www.synelog.fr

Decorative glass

There are multiple decorative glazings and many possible transformations of glass: blown glass, printed, tinted, extra-clear, lacquered, sandblasted or acid-etched, with digital printing or with a particular cut or shaping.

Printed glasses are cast glasses while the blown glasses are blown by the mouth.

The colored glass is dyed in the mass by adding in the vitrifiable composition metallic oxides making it possible to obtain the desired colors.

The extra-clear glass contains less iron oxide than the clear glass, which gives it an increased light transmission and a whiter appearance (the glass does not have this green color in the thickness).

Acid-etched glass is a glass that has received acid on one of its faces while sandblasting involves spraying sand grains on one side of a transparent glass at high speed, which in both cases give the glass an aspect completely frosted or only partially (patterns).

The lacquered glass is a clear or frosted glass coated with a lacquer on the back side so that this layer is protected from degradations. The appearance of the lacquered glass is thus preserved.

Digital printing allows you to print a digital file (photo, patterns, text ...) on the glass.

Variable opacity glazing

The variable opacity glazing are composed of laminated glasses with a liquid crystal film. The glazing passes from translucent to transparent by the passage of an electric current triggered by the action of a simple switch or a remote control.

Plastic materials:

PMMA

Methyl polymethacrylate (PMMA) ("plexiglass" or "altuglas"), which can be cast or extruded, is lighter than glass and UV-insensitive. It exists in different thicknesses (we store it in clear from 2 to 8 mm, beyond or in other colors we can supply it to order).

Polycarbonate

The polycarbonate is highly impact resistant and is used in roof filling in the form of alveolar plates.

Consult the Glass Dictionary